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Jerry Lewis... Funny Or Not ?

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Chat' started by Joe Strummer, Nov 27, 2015.

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  1. Joe Strummer

    Joe Strummer VIP Whale

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    I just finished a bio on Jerry.
    I saw him ( briefly,in person ) drive by me in
    a golf cart.......years ago.
    I loudly bellowed....."Jerrr - reeee !"
    He turned with that goofy half smile, as he drove off.
    *
    One story, from the bio -
    There was a "knock off" duo - who outright - stole
    Martin + Lewis' act.
    ( the Jerry, impersonator was actually on The Martin + Lewis Radio show -
    he did a skit as a "baby Jerry". )
    Anyway -
    Jerry got "wise" to these two guys rippin' off the act --
    so, VERY SHREWDLY, had the impersonator, sign a contract with Jerry's
    big time booking agency.
    As soon as the impersonator signed...........he got NO MORE WORK.
    None.
    The guy complained........but Jerry had him by the b@lls w/ a contract.
    Jerry "put him on the shelf" !........very shrewd !
    The impersonator finally, broke the contract because he was only 16 yrs old when he signed.
    *
    Some people don't think Jerry was funny.
    I do...did........but certainly not as much as those crazy French do !
    How 'bout you ?
     
  2. UTE

    UTE Plastics

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    Jerry Lewis was at his peak when he did the Nutty Professor with the gorgeous Stella Stevens. He not only wrote much of the movie, he also directed it - and he hits it out of the park. His "Buddy Love" character is classic.

    Bill
     
  3. bardolator

    bardolator Lifelong Low Roller

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    He might be funny if you like silly, except that he's not even my brand of silly.
     
  4. TriggerMN

    TriggerMN The Norwegian Hammer

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    Totally not funny in any way. Every generation has one "comedian" who is so over the top that you just want to smack the **** out of them. Jerry Lewis, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey.
     
  5. Rodent Pack

    Rodent Pack S.S. Minnow

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    I suppose if you like the over-the-top Carol Channing hard to watch type of personality...
     
  6. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    Personally, I never liked slapstick or goofball humor, but for this I would say he was probably funny "in his time" to the masses/general public, but its like most forms of art and entertainment where times change and what was funny then or what the general public found entertaining, while there are probably a few people who will still find it entertaining today its not going to go over with the general public like it did back then.
     
  7. Blonde_4_ever

    Blonde_4_ever LasVegas4ever.com

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    Never found him funny...but somebody must have!
     
  8. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    I agree. I still laugh whenever I see this movie.

    Edit: Wanted to add the movie "Disorderly Orderly". That one had some funny supporting comedy actors that were really funny, for that time era. I agree that these types of comedy might not go well with the audiences today.
     
  9. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    I LOVE younger Jerry Lewis... "Heyyyyy Lady!!!!!" As he aged, the same type of humor didn't work so well, but I'll take Martin and Lewis and the years immediately following for a laugh any day.
     
  10. marcianofan

    marcianofan High-Roller

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    Robin Williams, WTH !!! He was awesome, but i get your point I think. Jerry was a little before my time, and Carrey is a little out there but I think he is a very good actor, for what he does. But Williams could do many different roles also like good will hunting...
     
  11. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    + 1
     
  12. PJMargDE

    PJMargDE Tourist

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    Surely not funny in this century. I can laugh at some of his early movies.
     
  13. Richard Alpert

    Richard Alpert LOST

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    Watching his telethon was the first all-nighter I ever pulled back in junior high. It took a lot of Mt. Dew to get through chores on Labor Day morning that year!

    My Mom can't stand watching him, my Dad loves him, and I'm somewhere in-between...

    -Richard
     
  14. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    In their time, Martin & Lewis were the gold standard. Times change, standards change. I thought he was funny when I was a little kid. They still came on some of the big variety shows on weekend nights in the early '50's, probably Ed Sullivan Show, too.
     
  15. luckylinda

    luckylinda High-Roller

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    I never thought he was funny more just goofy. I saw him perform in damn Yankees and he was good then he stops the play and starts his own stupid show. Was rude for the other performers and ruined the enjoyment and flow of live theater.
     
  16. bardolator

    bardolator Lifelong Low Roller

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    That is damning evidence indeed. The Bard despised clowns who mugged and departed from the script to try to steal a scene, and to me, Jerry never transcended that level. He was an annoying four-year-old ruining his big sister's birthday party.

    Although they have some similarities, I would hesitate to put Jerry Lewis in the same bin as Robin Williams. Robin tried too hard just like Lewis but was funny in a number of ways, especially in improvisation. He played off what he was given more than just set-piece clowning. He was also a talented actor, bringing in the tragic element that adds depth to comedy. Jim Carrey resembles Lewis a great deal in his approach to comedy, and to me is rarely funny, but also has the saving grace of acting talent.
     
  17. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    Like everyone when I was a boy i thought he was funny as nutty professor and the like but thats about it.

    Never thought he was funny as an adult . matter of fact, he always seems to come off as sort of a jerk in interviews. i think the best role he ever had was as a drug lord on Miami Vice. He was a total bad guy, loved him in that.

    For the record, i never liked Robin Williams either.
     
  18. Tony Y

    Tony Y Low-Roller

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    Really liked him with Dean Martin they were perfect together( just like Carney and Gleason) but Jerry Lewis solo is not funny at all.. Just annoying
     
  19. TriggerMN

    TriggerMN The Norwegian Hammer

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    You are right, he was indeed good in Good Will Hunting and in his serious roles. I am thinking more of his stand-up routines and his schtick in movies like Good Morning, Vietnam.
     
  20. PaulBowdry

    PaulBowdry Low-Roller

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    I liked the combo with Martin. Cool slick guy with goofy Jerry Lewis went together in my opinion. Robin Williams doing stand up he had one good one liner for every ten. Just keep spitting them out there quick and the funny one made you forget about the previous nine non laughers
     
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